Different members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (or any religious community, really) approach it through different philosophical lenses. These lenses often help explain why some members stay committed, some begin to struggle, and others eventually leave. A helpful way to understand these varying perspectives is to group them into three general categories: those who see the church as True, those who see it as Good, and those who see it as Useful.
The Church as True
Some members prioritize doctrinal and historical truth claims. They believe the church is the one true church because of things like: Joseph Smith’s divine calling, The Book of Mormon being an ancient, literal record, and priesthood authority being restored from God.
For those who see the church as True, the faith is built on the unshakable foundation that its core claims—God’s literal involvement, restored priesthood authority, modern prophets, sacred ordinances—are absolutely and unquestionably true. This belief leads to a deep sense of purpose and moral clarity. Members in this group attend diligently, magnify their callings, and feel reinforced by the spiritual confidence that the church is the only true path back to God. Historical issues or doctrinal controversies are not seen as problems because truth must triumph over discomfort. If something seems troubling, they assume it will one day be resolved or that the current understanding is incomplete. For them, the church must remain True at all costs—because if its truth collapses, everything collapses.
Why are we members of the only true Church? Even though I cannot answer this question for all 13 million members of the Church, I would like to express from my heart some answers that probably will fit with your own answers.
Enrique R. Falabella, Why Are We Members of the Only True Church? General Conference, October 2007
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2007/10/why-are-we-members-of-the-only-true-church
In the spring of 1820 a 14-year-old boy, confused by many of these very doctrines that still confuse much of Christendom, went into a grove of trees to pray. In answer to that earnest prayer offered at such a tender age, the Father and the Son appeared as embodied, glorified beings to the boy prophet Joseph Smith. That day marked the beginning of the return of the true, New Testament gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and the restoration of other prophetic truths offered from Adam down to the present day.
I testify that my witness of these things is true and that the heavens are open to all who seek the same confirmation. Through the Holy Spirit of Truth, may we all know “the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He has] sent.” Then may we live Their teachings and be true Christians in deed, as well as in word, I pray.
Jeffrey R. Holland, The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent, General Conference, October 2007
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2007/10/the-only-true-god-and-jesus-christ-whom-he-hath-sent
For these members, as long as the church is true, that’s reason enough to stay, even if there are flaws or imperfections in people or policy. The church being true embodies the conviction that the Church isn’t one path among many, but the only divinely authorized repository of restored truth.
![“[Many] advocate: Go to any school, take any course, or go to no school at all, and we’ll all end up in the same place with the same heavenly diploma. That just isn’t reasonable, nor is it true. The position that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church upon the face of the earth is fundamental. Perhaps it would be more convenient and palatable and popular if we were to avoid it; nevertheless, we are under a sacred obligation and a sacred trust to hold to it. It is not merely an admission; it is a positive declaration. It is so fundamental that we cannot yield on this point.” - Boyd K. Packer, LDS Apostle, General Conference, October 1971 | wasmormon.org](https://i0.wp.com/wasmormon.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Boyd-K-Packer-only-true-church-upon-the-face-of-the-earth-is-fundamental-we-cannot-yield-on-this-point.jpg?resize=640%2C640&ssl=1)
Isn’t it strange, then, that so many are able to apply such a view toward religion. They advocate: Go to any school, take any course, or go to no school at all, and we’ll all end up in the same place with the same heavenly diploma.
That just isn’t reasonable, nor is it true.
The position that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church upon the face of the earth is fundamental. Perhaps it would be more convenient and palatable and popular if we were to avoid it; nevertheless, we are under a sacred obligation and a sacred trust to hold to it. It is not merely an admission; it is a positive declaration. It is so fundamental that we cannot yield on this point.
Boyd K. Packer, General Conference, October 1971
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1971/10/the-only-true-and-living-church
The Church as Good
Others focus on the church’s moral and ethical values. They stay because they believe the church promotes goodness. As in: teaching Christlike love, encouraging service, family, and community, and offering spiritual nourishment and belonging. Sometimes leaders even literally equate the church with the term good, such as Gordon B. Hinckley, when he said, Mormon should mean more good.
Others view the church as fundamentally Good. Their loyalty is grounded not so much in doctrinal certainty, but in the positive experiences they’ve had within the faith. They appreciate the church for the community it fosters, the service it inspires, and the moral guidance it provides. Their commitment is nurtured by love, family bonds, and a deep desire for belonging. These members may acknowledge imperfections in church history or leadership but believe the overall impact is beneficial. They’re more likely to focus on the healing and hope the gospel offers. They want the church to be a safe, nurturing environment—a spiritual refuge. For them, if the church ceases to feel good or safe, if it becomes a source of exclusion or harm, then its value is threatened, and their faith may begin to unravel.
Russell M. Nelson reflects the Good mindset by emphasizing the relational and redemptive aspects of the gospel. His focus is on helping others progress spiritually—framing the work of the Church not just in terms of doctrine, but in doing good for others, both living and dead.
Anytime you do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—take a step toward making covenants with God and receiving their essential baptismal and temple ordinances, you are helping to gather Israel. It is as simple as that.
Russell M. Nelson, “Hope of Israel,” Worldwide youth devotional, June 3, 2018
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/worldwide-devotional-for-young-adults/2018/06/hope-of-israel
This aligns with the Good lens, where the Church is seen as a force for compassion, service, and spiritual connection that blesses individuals and communities alike. Gerrit W. Gong highlights how the church fosters community, belonging, and love—core elements of the Good church.
To each of us in every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, God promises, covenants, and invites us to come partake of His abundant joy and goodness… Heavenly Father invites us everywhere to feel His love, to learn and grow through education, honorable work, self-reliant service, and patterns of goodness and happiness we find in His restored Church.
Religious goodness and wisdom are needed in today’s cluttered, noisy, polluted world. How else can we refresh, inspire, and edify the human spirit?
As we discover God, sometimes unexpected answers to prayers take us from the street, bring us to community, chase darkness from our souls, and guide us to find spiritual refuge and belonging in the goodness of His covenants and abiding love.
Gerrit W. Gong, All Nations, Kindreds, and Tongues, General Conference, October 2020
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/24gong
Dallin H. Oaks pushes the Good aspect of the church further and suggests that the church isn’t just Good, but Better, and even the Best!
As we consider various choices, we should remember that it is not enough that something is good. Other choices are better, and still others are best. Even though a particular choice is more costly, its far greater value may make it the best choice of all…
It is good to belong to our Father in Heaven’s true Church and to keep all of His commandments and fulfill all of our duties. But if this is to qualify as best, it should be done with love and without arrogance…
Some uses of individual and family time are better, and others are best. We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families.
Dallin H. Oaks, Good, Better, Best, General Conference, October 2007
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2007/10/good-better-best
But when the church is seen as causing harm (e.g. to LGBTQ+ members, to women, to marginalized groups), this challenges the perception of the church as good, and may lead these members to question their place in it.
The Church as Useful
Some view the church primarily as practically beneficial, regardless of whether it’s strictly “true” or always morally “good.” They value things like: a support network and community, a place for raising children with values, and personal growth through service and responsibility.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf shares a very practical invitation to live and share the gospel in everyday life—accenting the Useful aspect of the faith in action.
Walking the path of discipleship takes practice—each day, little by little, “grace for grace,” “line upon line.” Sometimes two steps forward and one step back.
The important thing is that you don’t give up; keep trying to get it right. You will eventually become better, happier, and more authentic. Talking with others about your faith will become normal and natural. In fact, the gospel will be such an essential, precious part of your lives that it would feel unnatural not to talk about it with others. That may not happen immediately—it is a lifelong effort. But it will happen…
In whatever ways seem natural and normal to you, share with people why Jesus Christ and His Church are important to you. Invite them to “come and see.” Then encourage them to come and help. There are numerous opportunities for people to help in our Church…
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Missionary Work: Sharing What Is in Your Heart
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2019/04/14uchtdorf
The third category includes those who see the church as Useful. These members may not feel the need to declare the church absolutely true, nor do they necessarily idealize it as the ultimate good. Instead, they see the church as a practical system that brings structure, meaning, and social cohesion to their lives. It helps raise children with values, provides a rhythm to life, and offers a community of like-minded people. They may not delve deeply into doctrinal discussions or worry about historical discrepancies because those questions aren’t central to what they get from church participation. As long as the church serves a positive role in their life, they stay. But if it becomes inconvenient, emotionally draining, or irrelevant, their connection may fade without a dramatic rupture—quietly stepping back as the church’s utility diminishes.
A sense of belonging is important to our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being…
A second facet of the doctrine of belonging has to do with our own contributions. Although we rarely think about it, much of our belonging comes from our service and the sacrifices we make for others and for the Lord. Excessive focus on our personal needs or our own comfort can frustrate that sense of belonging… Belonging comes not as we wait for it but as we reach out to help one another.
Our pioneer forebears derived a deep sense of belonging, unity, and hope in Christ by the sacrifices they made to serve missions, build temples, abandon comfortable homes under duress and begin again, and in a multitude of other ways consecrate themselves and their means to the cause of Zion. They were willing to sacrifice even their lives if necessary. And we are all the beneficiaries of their endurance. The same is true for many today who may lose family and friends, forfeit employment opportunities, or otherwise suffer discrimination or intolerance as a consequence of being baptized. Their reward, however, is a powerful sense of belonging among the covenant people. Any sacrifice we make in the Lord’s cause helps to confirm our place with Him who gave His life a ransom for many.
The Church is the custodian of the covenants of salvation and exaltation that God offers us through the ordinances of the holy priesthood. It is by keeping these covenants that we obtain the highest and deepest sense of belonging… Thus, the doctrine of belonging comes down to this—each one of us can affirm: Jesus Christ died for me; He thought me worthy of His blood. He loves me and can make all the difference in my life. As I repent, His grace will transform me. I am one with Him in the gospel covenant; I belong in His Church and kingdom; and I belong in His cause to bring redemption to all of God’s children.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson, The Doctrine of Belonging, October 2022, General Conference
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2022/10/28christofferson?lang=eng
Elder Christofferson’s message speaks directly to the utility perspective by framing belonging not as a passive feeling, but as something actively created through service, sacrifice, and covenant living. For those who see the Church as useful, this teaching resonates deeply—it offers a practical blueprint for finding meaning, purpose, and community through participation. The Church becomes not just a place of doctrine, but a vehicle for personal growth, connection, and contribution. Through commitment and service, individuals derive tangible emotional and spiritual benefits: stability, identity, and a sense of purpose within a larger cause. Members are instructed to find the church useful in our journey toward perfection.
The source of our strength is faith in Jesus Christ as we intentionally seek to come unto Him each and every day… We don’t come to Jesus because we are perfect. We come to Him because we are flawed and in Him we can “be perfected.”
Joaquin E. Costa, The Power of Jesus Christ in Our Lives Every Day, General Conference, October 2023
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/10/24costa
These members may continue to participate because the church adds structure or meaning to their lives, even if they have doubts or disagreements.
Everyone Has Their Reasons
When people leave the church, it’s often because the version of the church they believe in stops working for them. If someone saw the church as true, but discovers troubling historical facts, that may break their foundation. If someone believed it was good, but sees harm in policies or culture, they may feel morally compelled to step away. If someone found it useful, but their needs change or they find healthier communities elsewhere, they may move on.
Even Leaders
Church leadership naturally speaks to varied perspectives, sometimes emphasizing doctrine, other times fellowship, and often focusing on practical spiritual support. Prophetic voices like Packer, Renlund, and Oaks tend to highlight Truth, defending doctrine, authority, and the “revealed” gospel. Community-focused leaders like Gong and Christofferson deliver messages filled with Good, stressing love, unity, and emotional safety. Pastoral voices such as Christofferson and Uchtdorf lean into Utility, showing how doctrine and community intersect to aid daily living, mental well‑being, and personal belonging.
Some leaders might even pit these perspectives against each other, such as Oaks and Packer but pointing out that not everything that is true, is useful. They aim to help those in the “useful” camp not to be bothered too much by the issues they find “true” camp.
Each of these groups can struggle in their own way. For those who see the church as True, discovering doctrinal inconsistencies, suppressed history, or witnessing hypocrisy in leadership can feel like a devastating betrayal. If the “truth” appears compromised, there is little left to hold on to. Doubt becomes existential. For those focused on the Good, the hardest struggles come when they or people they love are hurt by church teachings or policies, particularly around issues like LGBTQ+ inclusion, gender roles, or racial history. If the church stops feeling like a safe or loving place, it may lose its moral authority in their eyes. And for those who see the church as Useful, their departure may be prompted by life changes—a move, a shift in social networks, or the realization that their needs are being met more effectively elsewhere. The break may come not from anger or betrayal, but from inertia or shifting priorities.
These categories aren’t rigid or exclusive. Many members find themselves moving between these perspectives over time, or even holding multiple lenses at once. A member might feel the church is True when it comes to spiritual doctrines, Good in terms of its community, and Useful for raising children—all at once. But if one of those pillars weakens, the whole structure can become unstable. Understanding these perspectives helps foster empathy for those who stay, those who struggle, and those who leave. Each is responding to their lived experience, filtered through their own values and worldview.
By recognizing that faith operates on more than just belief—that it also touches on moral intuition, social belonging, and practical life management—we can better understand the complex reasons people stay in or walk away from the faith. And for those in transition, it can be liberating to realize they’re not alone—that others have walked similar paths, wrestling with similar questions, and that their journey has meaning, even if it no longer follows the old map.
No matter how you’ve seen the church—whether as true, good, useful, or something else entirely—your experience is valid. We each come to faith and are free to leave it through our own personal lens, shaped by our upbringing, relationships, values, and lived experiences. Sharing your story helps others understand perspectives they may have never considered, and more importantly, it offers support and solidarity to those quietly facing similar doubts or transitions. As people reflect on their journey, many recognize that once the church no longer felt true, good, or useful to them, stepping away became not only possible but necessary for their well-being. If you feel inclined, you’re invited to share your story at wasmormon.org, where others are doing the same—finding connection, healing, and sometimes even humor in the process.
Some even note that the church, in hindsight, wasn’t true, good, or useful at all—but deceitful, harmful, and damaging instead. Perspective is everything! Your voice matters, and by telling your story, you help build a more honest and compassionate conversation about faith, doubt, and personal growth.
More reading:
- Mormon Means ‘More Good’
- Some things that are true are not very useful to the Mormon church
- What parts of the Mormon experience were most important or useful to you?
- I Know The Church Is True
- What did “The Church is True” mean to you? And now?
- How Could Mormonism Not Be True?
- Dominant Narrative of Church is Not True